Pacific soccer talent getting overdue international attention

The coach of the Papua New Guinea soccer team, Flemming Serritslev, says he is in no doubt that defender Alwin Komolong will be the first player from PNG to play in Germany’s top division, the Bundesliga.

He signed his first professional contract last month with a lower league side in Stuttgart, but coach Serritslev says bigger clubs are monitoring Komolong’s progress.

The PNG player’s switch to Europe has been followed by the captain of Vanuatu’s under 20 World Cup team, Bong Kalo, also rumored to be signing a contract with Switzerland Club, FC Lugano.

And Flemming Serritslev says he believes the door may have opened at last for other Pacific players to earn professional deals.